Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-10-21
ALSACE-LORRAlNE.
The Difficulties in the Way of Germaniz-
ing the Two Provinces.

ing the Two Provinces.
The Gerlnanizing Of Alsace has not
gone on as rapidly as the German Gov
ernment could wish, if one can Judge
by the large majorIties of which the
solid delegation of French-sympa-
thizing members were sent to the
Reichstag in the election just past. 1t
was something for the Paris newspapers
to gloat over. Even the women who
sell newspapers in the kiosks on the
boulcvards chuckled over the discom-
future of Bismarck in beloved Alsace.
What minority who voted for the inn
perial candidate think, or what their
motives were, can only be known in
general way. Like many other Ger
mans, they probably supposed that the
election of delegates to the Reichstag
who favored the Septennate was a
gauge of the peace of Europe. What
another war would mean to Asace,
with the hatred that the last generated.
they can well imagine, having still
vivid in their memories the lives lost,
the cities and towns devastated and the
fields laid waste. 1t was not to be OK
pectod that at such a time citizens of
Strasburg would lay bare their hearts
to the fullest extent to stranger. Yet
in various conversations that | have
had have been able to detect but one
strong undercurrent of sentiment, and
that was sympathy with and affection
for France. My most implicit conf
denees were received on the roof of the
cathedral. Here is little world by
itself, made up of watchmen whose
business it was to signal the fires that
may break out in any part of the city,
and care-takers, who also serve as
guides and attendants to strangers
They show the historical institutions,
point out the places of interest visible
from the roof, and mount the spire
with every one that comes, no one be-
ing permitted to ascend alone. Yet no
one ventured to say in so many words
that he wished to see Alsace made again
part of the French domain. The
information was conveyed in hints
and inuendoes. and tones that meant
volumes. One said that he had per-
formed his military service in France,
he had taken the oath of allegiance to
the German Government, and now he
did not really know what he was. One
expressed himself in one way and an
other in another. The elevation was
great, and yet there seemed sort OF |
idea that the echoes might repeat the
condolences to the authorities on the
level of the earth far below. SO after |
ward in tho cafes and in the innhouses |
that l visited. There were smothered
words of sympathy and hope fol
France. and though nothing abusive
was said of Germany, not phrase
of commentator could be heard
any where. If there was ccnsure ii |
was Of the septennate, criticisms OF
Bismarck, and only Theoretically could
it be interpreted as the preference
Of the speaker for the country
which was the land of his nativity
and all his early associations. Ii
| had had confidential admission to
some socialistic circles should prob
ably have heard good deal said more
openly. AS it was, l was convinced
that if it were possible for the question
to be decided by vote of the people,
that it would be almost unanimous in
favor of the old order of things under
the old rule; but this can not be. II |
looks as if it could never be. The suo.
gestion to make Alsace-Lorraine an in
dependent province like Switzerland
with its neutrality guaranteed by the
powers, that should act as suffer
between France and Germany is a good
one if it was feasible. The two coun.
tries have no other cause for quarrel.
There could then be only commercial
rivalry, in which France would be sure
to have the best chance, her goods
being SO superior to those of Germany.
If something like this is not done there
must be war, or these great and con-
tinually increasing ornaments will end
in the financial ruin of both countries.
-Stras6urg Cor. San Francisco Chron-
iclc.